Title: Lincoln Spearheads a Revolution in Psychiatric Care
In an unprecedented move traced back to 1837, the Lincoln Lunatic Asylum became the inaugural institution of its kind in the UK to fully eliminate the use of mechanical restraints, marking a significant turning point in psychiatric treatment. Professor Nigel Horner of the University of Lincoln emphasises this momentous breakthrough, drawing attention to the asylum’s exceptional move towards adopting more compassionate treatment methods, under the guidance of Robert Gardiner Hill and Edward Parker Charlesworth.
Distinct from other asylums of the period, the Lincoln institution stood out as the first of its kind purposely built on public donation, accepting patients from all socio-economic backgrounds, including those in poverty. Whilst national recognition frequently centred around Dr John Conolly and his similar reforms at the Hanwell Asylum, it was Lincoln’s ground-breaking innovations that set the stage for systemic change in psychiatric care. They garnered attention across the realm through a series of enlightening articles and lectures. These profound developments during this pivotal period are detailed thoroughly by Professor Horner in the BBC Secret Lincolnshire podcast.
This story was derived from original reporting by The Lincoln Post based on information available on www.bbc.com.
